I have heard that this new system for bidding on council houses is a load of crap & I've heard that people just dont seem to be getting housed, Ive only been on the housing register since May but I dont want to waste my time bidding on properties if nothing aint gonna come from it.

Can anybody tell me if they have been housed by the council under this new bidding scheme and if so how long was it before they were offered a place.

I have thought about renting privately but it really scares me because of how high the rents are and I know from friends and collegues that housing benefit doesnt help that much and along with all the other living expenses I'd be worried that I wouldnt cope on my own financially because I am a single mum.

I have also noticed from looking on a few letting sites that not alot of letting agents except housing benefit.

I guess the only advantage to renting privately would be that I'd get to move alot quicker and I could choose a decent area but financially its a huge risk and scares the living crap out of me.

Do any single parents that work part time on here rent privately and if so how have u found it financially?

Although I can't comment on the single parent aspect, my Sis-in-law has just been rehoused (eventually).

She was in a tiny privately rented 3 bed terraced and it was costing her £475 a month. She was bidding on loads of properties and she never won one, but eventually she was offered one that was turned down by the winning bidder, and she is now in a 3 bed semi costing £45 a week - a big difference.

The advice seems to be to keep bidding (on anything and everything that is suitable) but avoid properties that have been 'ring fenced' for residents from clearance areas (they will usually say that priority is given to residents from xxxxxx).

The council advice to my S-I-L was that you will usually get an offer within 3-4 months, no longer than 6.

If you would like a very extensive and recent occurance please go here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12983&highlight=state+of+sheffield)

Incidentily I am still homeless. I have looked at the private rent - but all the ones advertised have excessive rents and housing benefit is unlikely to pay the full rent leaving you will little or no money to live on.
There are other rents available thru ordinary landlords, but unfortunately they seem more keen to cater for the student population or you have to know someone who knows someone to get details.
I was told by a single parent worked that at some stage during the next month I had to decide which was more important - the house or the school...I am thinking now it is the house

Moon Maiden

Blimey Moon Maiden thats some harsh times you've been through and are still going through, I wish you all the best and hope you get housed asap.

At this rate I think I will most likely look for a private landlord after Christmas, I only want a 2 bed unfurnished property but still I dont expect it to be cheap, but it would beat waiting on the council and at least I could get me and my son settled.

I hope things are getting better for you hun, best of luck with everything.

Jo

Hi Squashie and thanks for the kind words.

I do actually know someone who was rehoused on the system - but hey had demolition priority and with the number of properties that the council are demolishing that is a helluva lot of people being rehoused before anyone else.
Not that I dispute their right to it - I just dispute the common sense of the local council- HA

I looking into more private landlords too.

Moon Maiden

Im still waiting to b rehoused after 13weeks of bidding without any sucess
getting a bit fed up now as nothing seems to help even though i have prioity :-(

I been bidding for 6 weeks all with homeless priority and nothing yet...probably unlikely to get anywhere fast judging by yours Ange.
There no houses for me to bid on this week either. :(

Moon

Hell Ang, if you have a priority and still havent been housed then I dont stand a chance because I'm not from Sheffield.

What I dont understand is that on the property shop when you choose to bid on a property they sometimes say that you can only bid on a place if you are 40 or 60+ and no resident children but yet say the reccomended family size of the place is either for a couple or small family.

Now as a single parent I must fall into the small family category and the only thing I have going against me is the fact that I'm not 40 or 60+ Aghhh!!! all these restrictions are bloody annoying, but sod it I'm bidding on them anyway.

I dont expect to get offered any of the places I ve bid on so I havent got anything to loose, but I must say it is making renting privately seem more appealing by the day.

Hope you get offered a place soon ang, all the best.

Regards

Jo

the houses that make me laugh are the ones that say well maintained and you look closely on the the pictures and the house has metal grills on them

Moon Maiden

I'm still on the housing register with my old council, they sent me all this glossy info the other day detailing how they were going to start using this bidding system, from the looks of it, those that have been waiting for years to get a place can stand equal or less chance than someone new to the list - doesn't seem fair.
Anyway the info showed all these happy families standing in front of brand new houses!! Yeah right, the council don't own any of those properties, could they be done for misleading info or something.

Why should people that need a house be made to work and stress about them with all this bidding? Why don't the people at the council just do their jobs and allocate houses as they come up to the people next on the list.The skivers.